Tony Pulis: I've been fortunate to inherit players from Man United

Albion boss Tony Pulis says he's been lucky to inherit such well-rounded players from Manchester United.

Defender Jonny Evans and midfielder Darren Fletcher made 536 appearances for United between them, and Pulis expects them to get a good reception at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Both have become integral to Albion's performances this season, and the Baggies manager praised Sir Alex Ferguson's unique habit of developing good football players on the pitch and good men off it.

"I've been very fortunate," said Pulis.

"Jonny's come into the club and he's been absolutely fantastic, people will tell you, fantastic around the club.

"He did his apprenticeship there [at United] and I think he's been brought up in the proper manner.

"Fletch is exactly the same."

Albion's captain drives Evans and West Brom's third United old-boy, Anders Lindegaard, down to the Black Country for training from Manchester every day.

Pulis made the Scottish midfielder his captain not long after he joined from United, and at Stoke the Welshman also handed Ryan Shawcross, another player to come through United's academy, the captain's armband.

"They've been exceptional people, not just good players but exceptional people as well, so that's tribute to the youth development side at Manchester United," he said.

With Albion facing the chance to become only the second team in the Premier League era – after Man City – to win three in a row at Old Trafford, Pulis is hoping for a good response from his team after the Leicester defeat.

"It's going to be difficult," said Pulis.

"If you look at it in the clear light of day, the money that Louis [van Gaal] has spent, the players that they've got, the depth of their squad, it shouldn't really be a contest.

"But if you get 11 players running around on any given day who give it their best, then who knows?

"There's lots of outside influences that affect a game of football and you just hope and pray that things go for you."

Albion have conceded just two goals away from home so far this season, and with United struggling to find the net, Pulis is hoping for another shutout tomorrow.

"Our away record has been absolutely first class," said the manager.

"But at home we've switched off and been punished.

"People say we don't score enough goals, I think three or four games at home we've scored two goals and the opposition have scored three against us.

"It's completely the opposite away from home."

After conceding three goals to Leicester City last Saturday, Pulis has been drilling his players on defensive positions.

"We spend a lot of time looking and analysing what we're doing as a team and as a group," he said.

"The players have responded well this week.

"We've shown them clippings and videos where we think the weaknesses that we've shown, where they've been and hopefully they've taken them on board."

Fletcher made 340 appearances for Man United, won four Premier Leagues, an FA Cup and the Champions League.

While Evans didn't reach the same dizzying heights, he still has three Premier League winners' medals to his name and on his first return to Old Trafford Pulis expects the Northern Irishman to be well received by the home fans.

"Fletch is an absolute legend at Manchester United in respect of what he went through and what he achieved at that football club," said Pulis.

"Jonny will enjoy it and I'm sure he'll get a great reception. He deserves to as well."